Robert Wright

was born in the Parish of S. Alban in Hertfordshire, and at 15 years of age, an. 1574, he was elected Scholar of Trin. Coll, and in 1581 Fellow, being then Bach. of Arts. Afterwards proceeding in that faculty, he took holy Orders, was made Rector of Sonning in Berks, of Hayes in Middlesex, Chaplain to Qu. Elizabeth, Doctor of Divinity, Rector of Borton on the water in Glocestershire, Canon Resid. and Treasurer of Wells, Chaplain in ord. to K. Jam. 1, and in 1613 the first Warden of Wadham Coll, but resigned that office soon after, because he was not permitted to take to him a wife by Dame Dorothy the Foundress thereof. In 1622 he became Bishop of Bristow, was consecrated thereunto at Lambeth on the 23 of March the same year (Dr. Jo. Featley then preaching the Consecration sermon on Joh. 20.22.) but had not restitution made ((a))((a)) Pat. 21. Jac. 1. p. 27. to him of the Temporalities of that See till the 4 of Apr. following. In 1632 he was translated to Lichf. and Coventry, the Temporalities of which he received ((b))((b)) Pat. 8. Car. 1. p. 12. on the 3 of Dec. the same year, at which time he gave up the Treasurership of Wells, which he kept in commendam with Bristow. In Dec. 1641 when then he saw what mad work the Members of the Long Parliament made, and what farther they would do concerning the Hierarchy, he did, with eleven more Bishops, draw up a Protestation in behalf of themselves, against their unreasonable actions: which being first presented to the King, who refused to have any thing to do with it, it was transmitted to the H. of Commons, who thereupon impeaching the said Bishops of High Treason, they were all committed to custody, viz. ten of them, of which Lichfield was one, to the Tower, and two (Durham and Norwich) to the Black Rod; but before Lichfield was conveyed thither, he spoke an eloquent Speech at the bar of the H. of Commons, in answer for himself, which was afterwards printed in one sh. in qu. After he had continued Prisoner about 18 weeks to his great charge, he was released: Whereupon retiring to Eccleshal Hall in Staffordshire, (the Seat belonging to his Bishoprick) which about that time was fortified for his Majesty, and kept for his service by Dr. Bird a Civilian, died therein in Jul. or Aug. in sixteen hundred forty and three,1643. at which time the said place was besieged by Sir Will. Brereton and his Forces under the command of the Parliament; but where his body was buried, unless in the Cath. Ch. at Lichfield, which he desired in his last Will. and Test. dat. 3 May 1643, I know not. On the 17 day of the said month of Aug. his Maj. nominated Dr. Accepted Frewen Dean of Glocester and President of Magd. Coll. to succeed the said Dr. Wright in the See of Lich. and Coventry, Dr. Will. Brough to be Dean of Glocester, and Dr. Joh. Oliver to be Pres. of Magd. Coll. The Reader may be pleased now to know that the said Dr. Wright having been much given up to the affairs of the world, he did in short time gather up so much wealth from the Church, as not only to purchase the rich Mannour of Newnham Courtney in Oxfordshire of Hugh Audley of the Inner Temple Esq. and Tho. Audley his brother for the sum of 18000 l. (which mannour they some years before had bought of the Pollards) but Lands also in other places. All which he leaving to his only son Calvert Wright sometimes Gent. Com. of Wadh. Coll, he proved so ill a husband, as to sell the said Mannour, some years before the restauration of K. Ch. 2, to John Robinson of London Esq. afterwards a Knight and Baronet, and Lieutenant of the Tower; in the Church of which place he was afterwards buried. As for Calv. Wright he died in a mean condition in the Prison called the Kings Bench in Southwark, in the Winter time 1666.